The tourists were leading the hosts by 53 runs when rain brought a halt to the afternoon session.

Half centuries from Michael Vaughan, Alastair Cook and Ian Bell ensured Sri Lanka would have needed to bat again to win the match and wrap up the three-match series.

Starting the morning 149 runs behind, England captain Vaughan and Alastair Cook completed their second century opening stand of the match after an hour, the first time England have achieved this since Geoffrey Boycott and John Edrich in 1971, and only the eighth pair in the history of Test cricket to do so.

Vaughan and partner Cook had added 56 runs this morning without much difficulty before the former fell against the run of play.

Vaughan had batted fluently again and appeared to be untroubled by the Sri Lankan seamers before being deceived by Fernando's slower ball, which he chipped back to the bowler.

Cook, unbeaten on 62 at lunch, fell straight first ball after the interval to give part-time leg-break bowler Chamara Silva his first Test wicket, caught by Mahela Jayawardene in the slips.

Cook's half-century also ensured that both England openers reached 50 in both innings' of the match, a feat not registered since the Headingley Test match against Australia in 1948.

The Essex batsman was assisted by Ian Bell who also made his second 50 of the match before falling to Muttiah Muralitharan thanks to a good Michael Vandort catch at midwicket. Muralitharan is the only bowler to have dismissed Bell in the series.

Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood were together as tea was reached without further loss, with Pietersen unbeaten on 45, his highest score of the serious so far.

Pietersen also hit England's first six of the series when he deposited a long-hop from Silva over the midwicket boundary.

England needed to draw to allow themselves a chance to level the series in the final Test which starts in Galle next Tuesday.

The tourists will hope Matthew Hoggard has recovered from his back injury sustained in the first Test to return to the side.